Short Rods

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.

tmon wrote: Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.


My shortest Cortland rod is an 8 foot rod, but I love it. If you have not done
so, please cast any 6 foot 6 inch rod before you buy it. I have a few rods
shorter than 7.5 feet and have finaly decided that I prefer my rods to be no
shorter than 7.5 feet. Lots of folks will disagree with me, that is just the
way it has worked out for me.

"tmon" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.


tmon -

Having been given a gift certificate to LL Bean, I decided to try something
I probably would not buy if I were setting out to spend my own cash, so I
bought this -

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...pp&fea t=dp29

- the 6'6" 3wt. I've found it to be great for the small streams around here.
With a little practice it casts nicely and I'm having a ball with it.

regards,

mark hald
pepperell, ma

"tmon" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.


tmon -

Having been given a gift certificate to LL Bean, I decided to try something
I probably would not buy if I were setting out to spend my own cash, so I
bought this -

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...pp&fea t=dp29

- the 6'6" 3wt. I've found it to be great for the small streams around here.
With a little practice it casts nicely and I'm having a ball with it.

regards,

mark hald
pepperell, ma

diamondback rods are fine. i have a 6'+, 2 weight i use for tiny brookie
streams in nc. but, i suggest you get a bigger rod... 7'6" is the
shortest i'd recommend. as you probably know, 6' sizes are really
specialty items, and not anything i'd recommend for someone buying a
first rod or one they hope to use for multiple purposes in a range of
small streams... and, sooner than later, you'll be in a position where
you'll need/want that longer rod. i've used the 7'6" in small to medium
size waters in the southeastern, western, and northern areas, and it's a
much better all around rod than the 6 footers.

jeff

tmon wrote:

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.

uh...i probably should have read this before i posted...but it's always
affirming to find you agree...

jeff

Big Dale wrote:

tmon wrote: Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the

Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.



My shortest Cortland rod is an 8 foot rod, but I love it. If you have not done
so, please cast any 6 foot 6 inch rod before you buy it. I have a few rods
shorter than 7.5 feet and have finaly decided that I prefer my rods to be no
shorter than 7.5 feet. Lots of folks will disagree with me, that is just the
way it has worked out for me.

uh...i probably should have read this before i posted...but it's always
affirming to find you agree...

jeff

Big Dale wrote:

tmon wrote: Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the

Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.



My shortest Cortland rod is an 8 foot rod, but I love it. If you have not done
so, please cast any 6 foot 6 inch rod before you buy it. I have a few rods
shorter than 7.5 feet and have finaly decided that I prefer my rods to be no
shorter than 7.5 feet. Lots of folks will disagree with me, that is just the
way it has worked out for me.

"tmon" wrote ...
Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL?

I've got the Cortland CL 6'6". I find it works great in tight situations -
very sure and accurate with a three weight line. Definately not great for
distance casting, but you can definately get your 2--25 feet, and probably
more with a four weight line.

On small, brushy brookie streams, the small size is a real plus.

I also have a 7' 5wt. fiberglass rod, a True Temper Outdoorsman that was
just a couple of bucks in new condition on eBay. A fine casting rod, much
better at getting some distance than the Cortland. But when heading for
little streams, I still grab the 6'6". I find it perfect for stealthy,
delicate and accurate presentations in tight quarters.

I've tried using a 7'9" rod on some small streams, and it was very
frustrating trying to cast with too much rod and too little room.

Timothy Juvenal

"tmon" wrote ...
Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL?

I've got the Cortland CL 6'6". I find it works great in tight situations -
very sure and accurate with a three weight line. Definately not great for
distance casting, but you can definately get your 2--25 feet, and probably
more with a four weight line.

On small, brushy brookie streams, the small size is a real plus.

I also have a 7' 5wt. fiberglass rod, a True Temper Outdoorsman that was
just a couple of bucks in new condition on eBay. A fine casting rod, much
better at getting some distance than the Cortland. But when heading for
little streams, I still grab the 6'6". I find it perfect for stealthy,
delicate and accurate presentations in tight quarters.

I've tried using a 7'9" rod on some small streams, and it was very
frustrating trying to cast with too much rod and too little room.

Timothy Juvenal

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 02:36:20 -0400, (tmon) wrote:

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a 6'6'' rod. Has anyone tried the
Diamondback Americana or the Cortland CL? Any other recommendations?
I'll be using the rod in tight small stream situations. Probably just
20'-30' upstream presentations but some flexibility would be good too.

Why are you thinking of getting one, and where and for what are you
thinking of fishing? Unless you can say with certainty that 12-18" of
rod length will _absolutely_ mean a physical clearance difference, 6'6"
rods are, IMO, more for the angler than the locale. And a locale giving
you non-clearance-related trouble (stream size, bank
obstructions/plants/trees/whatevers, winding/bending of the stream,
etc.) with a 7'6"-8'6" will give you the same trouble with a 6'6", but
using the 6'6" will introduce its own set of limitations and/or
difficulties. For example, accurately and smoothly casting to 20 ft.
with one-two weight gear is obviously possible, but it takes some
practice. I've fished the same streams with rods from a 6' to 8'6"
(with all other conditions being equal), and consider the 6-foot-range,
1-2 wt. rods in a non-clearance-issue situation more a interesting
diversion than a "right tool for the job" type of thing.

HTH,
R